Salzburg sights and landmarks guide

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Salzburg’s unique baroque structures, which brought it recognition as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1997, make it a hugely popular tourist destination and in peak season, tourists far outnumber the local residents. Of course, Salzburg sights are not limited to fine Baroque style structures and here we give you a preview of the city-attractions belonging to different periods.

Salzburg Sights – Churches

The Old Town area has many churches. The Salzburg Cathedral should be named first. Also known as Church of the Saint Michael, it is one of the oldest ones in the city. The original structure erected in 774 was damaged by the fire that broke out in 1598. The reconstructed cathedral now houses a museum.

The Abbey of Saint Peter and Benedictine monastery founded by the later Saint Rupert around 700 stands in the Old Town. Originally done in Romanesque style, the abbey was re-touched to add some late-Baroque features. Apart from St. Rupert’s tomb, the altar paintings are the chief attractions here. Other tourist attractions in the vicinity are St. Peter’s Cemetery and early Christian burial chambers dating back to 215.

Other long-standing churches within the city’s bounds are St. Blaise's Church, The Basilika Maria Plain, The Franziskaner Church and The University Church.

Salzburg Sights – Forts And Palaces

Salzburg’s Old Town is full of castles, forts and palaces. Notable among these are Hohensalzburg Fortress, The Residenz Palace, Mirabell Palace and Hellbrunn Palace. Construction of Hohensalzburg Fortress began as early as 1077 by Archbishop Gebhard, but portions were added to it till the later half of the 17th century. The Residenz Palace was the residence of Prince Archbishops of Salzburg. Built in 1606, the Mirabell Palace and its gardens have some excellent sculptures/figurines based on Greek mythology; the palace hall is regarded as Europe’s most grand wedding hall. The Hellbrunn Palace was a pleasure palace built in Baroque style. The palace’s park with its trick-fountains and mechanical theater are simply unforgettable.

Salzburg Sights – Other Landmarks

Being the birth-place of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, many Salzburg sights have connections with the world-famous classical composer and prominent among these are:

• Mozart’s birthplace – the house where Mozart was born on January 27, 1756, and which has now been turned into a museum
• Mozart’s residence – the house where the family stayed in between 1773 and 1787 and
• Mozart Square – the square where Mozart’s statue made by Ludwig Schwanthaler stands; the statue was unveiled on 5th September, 1842.

Among other Salzburg sights are Siegmundstor (or Siegmund's Gate), a road tunnel built in 1767 under Prince Archbishop Sigismund von Schrattenbach. The greater Salzburg area has some museums like the Salzburger Freilichtmuseum Großgmain. The Salzburg area was also used as a retreat by Hitler and you can go viewing The Berghof and The Schloss Klessheim Palace.